Description
The IAPP dissector (packet-iapp.c) for Ethereal 0.9.1 to 0.10.9 does not properly use certain routines for formatting strings, which could leave it vulnerable to buffer overflows, as demonstrated using modified length values that are not properly handled by the dissect_pdus and pduval_to_str functions.
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 3.0 | ethereal | 0.9.4-1woody12 | DSA-718-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 3 | ethereal +1 | 0.10.10-1.EL3.1 | RHSA-2005:306 |
Public exploits
Exploit or proof-of-concept code for this vulnerability is publicly available, which lowers the bar for attackers. Treat it as a reason to patch sooner.
Exploit-DB 1
- Ethereal 0.10.9 (Windows) - '3G-A11' Remote Buffer Overflow EDB-874 · dos · Mar 12, 2005 · verified
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 2
- RHSA-2005:306 Red Hat Security Advisory: ethereal security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- DSA-718-1 ethereal - buffer overflow Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- GLSA-200503-16 vendor-advisory
- MDKSA-2005:053 vendor-advisory
- http://anonsvn.ethereal.com/viewcvs/viewcvs.py?view=rev&rev=13707
- http://security.lss.hr/index.php?page=details&ID=LSS-2005-03-05
- http://www.ethereal.com/appnotes/enpa-sa-00018.html
- RHSA-2005:306 vendor-advisory
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:9687 vdb-entry signature
- FLSA-2006:152922 vendor-advisory
- DSA-718 vendor-advisory
- 20050312 Ethereal remote buffer overflow #2 mailing-list
- 12762 vdb-entry